Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 45 self-published titles below. Each appears with a list of retailers that are selling the book and a description provided by its author. Some of these writers are waiting to be discovered; others have track records and followings and are doing it on their own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles in this section, please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.
Fiction
The Happy Valley
Benjamin Harnett. Serpent Key Press. $19.95 paper (414p), ISBN 979-89-86744-54-4; $9.95 e-book, ASIN B0B9LPBBW1
Amazon, Bookshop, Ingram
A middle-aged man revisits his past to uncover the mystery of his first love’s disappearance against the background of a changing world.
Meatpacking
Michael Heslin. Skate-Eight Books. $9.99 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-64704-529-6; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-64704-528-9
Amazon, BN.com
This is a chronicle of an unusual family living below Manhattan’s elevated High Line in a once-abandoned but now thriving neighborhood.
The Persephone Theory
Namir Rashid Thompson. Rosedog Books. $12 paper (108p), ISBN 978-1-4809-8203-1; $7 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4809-8226-0
Rosedogbookstore.com
Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, leaves her immortal children behind to roam Earth, spreading messages that power is being abused and that life is a cycle of rebirth and vengeance.
Sembach
Said Shafik. Said Shafik. $34.99 (151p), ISBN 979-83-521-2934-0; $9.99 e-book, ASIN B0BDVZWZTJ
Amazon
The Ukrainian leader and the American librarian had never met in person during the operation, but they teamed up from a distance to defeat the Russian dictator.
A Time for Lies
Cy Stein. Abeel St. Press. $15.99 paper (398p), ISBN 978-1-73411-599-4; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73411-596-3
Amazon
A bright young lawyer connected to Roy Cohn at the dawn of the McCarthy era gets the opportunity to save his failing law career. It’ll only cost him his conscience.
Poetry
Bits and Pieces: Thoughts from a Life in Poetry and Prose
Joyce Henefield Coleman. iUniverse. $10.99 paper (86p), ISBN 978-1-5320-6480-7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5320-6479-1
Amazon
In poems filled with pain and beauty, health and illness, Coleman shares her observations and poetic experiences.
Life on the Run: The Reverses of Life
Brian Michael Hurll. BookTrail Publishing. $12.99 paper (238p), ISBN 978-1-953731-33-3; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B08XSTRGQ4
Amazon, BN.com, Google Play, Kobo
This collection talks about nature, love, holidays, and topical themes.
Mystery/Thriller
A Death at the Potawatomi Club
Stephen Timbers. Dorrance Publishing. $33 (408p), ISBN 978-1-68537-190-6; $24 paper, ISBN 978-1-68537-223-1
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million, Dorrance Bookstore
Charlie Bailey is an amateur sleuth suspected of the murder of a friend and client. He outdoes the police while exposing his family and himself to the crosshairs of the real killer.
Vestige
Monique Gliozzi. Tellwell Talent. $11.99 paper (106p), ISBN 978-0-228-82350-6; $4.99 e-book, ASIN B0839PCJT8
Amazon, BN.com
One of Dr. Maxwell Stein’s clients visits him unexpectedly, bringing him more unexpected news in unexpected circumstances. Is Max bordering on insanity, or is there still hope?
Ways to Die in Tokyo
Thomas Ran Garver. BookBaby. $17.99 paper (386p), ISBN 978-1-66782-224-2; $7.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66782-225-9
BookBaby
When a down-on-his-luck mixed martial arts fighter takes a high-paying bodyguard gig, things don’t go as planned, and soon he finds himself on the run from the cops and a pack of ruthless gangsters.
SF/Fantasy/Horror
The Angel Theory
John Morelli. Oaklea Press. $29.95 (390p), ISBN 979-88-468-7274-5; $16.95 paper, ISBN 979-88-468-7159-5
Amazon
Bill Arena comes to control a time machine. Will he use it as a weapon of destruction or a force for good?
Broken Souls (Seasons of the Cycle #1)
Troy Calkins. Prometheus. $22.99 (467p), ISBN 979-83-518-9678-6; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B0BB645J2B
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
A dark epic fantasy with a dash of romance that takes place in a high fantasy setting. A tale of Vikings and elves who are lovers and enemies within a world of myth and lore.
The Domain of Arrogance
Charles David Grotsky. Xlibris. $36.99 paper (962p), ISBN 978-1-66981-253-1; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66981-252-4
Amazon
God, unhappy with humankind, has sent a blue comet to destroy Earth, but has offered one chance to save it with a nearly impossible task. Can a group of heroes save humanity?
Fisscial Intelligence
Douglas R. Miller. Dorrance Publishing. $16 paper (150p), ISBN 978-1-68537-366-5; $11 e-book, ISBN 978-1-68537-680-2
Amazon, BN.com, Dorrance Publishing
A sci-fi novel that takes a new spin on artificial intelligence, where the goal isn’t to take over the earth or fight a war against humans.
Later
Colette R. Harrell. Intentional Entertainment. $14.95 paper (206p), ISBN 979-89-86285-11-5; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 979-89-86285-10-8
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
A pre–Civil War enslaved family on the run and the love and justice that journeys through time to be fulfilled. A historical, interracial fantasy.
Redemption (Eternal Nights #1)
Richard Spegal. Gatekeeper Press. $14.99 paper (418p), ISBN 978-1-66292-862-8; $9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66292-863-5
Eternalnightsseries.com, Amazon, BN.com
An occult action thriller following the “antiheroes” (a married couple) as they are drawn into a war of extinction against a militant branch of the Catholic Church.
The Road to Damascus (K-Nurse #1)
Mark Leo Tapper. Sousa House Press. $9.99 paper (182p), ISBN 978-0-9989066-4-5; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B09P1VKY1G
Amazon
When a magic ritual goes awry at the end of the First Crusade, a group of Knights Hospitaller are mistakenly made immortal, doomed to be reborn after each death.
Seven Beyond
Stella Atrium. Stella Atrium Writes. $14.99 paper (330p), ISBN 978-1-958959-00-8; $1.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-958959-01-5
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
Dr. Meenins is 800 years old and explores memories of his galactic travels. This historical science fiction fantasy fable touches on themes of diversity and facing guilty acts.
The Syren’s Mutiny
Jessica S. Taylor. Jessica S. Taylor. $28.99 (400p), ISBN 979-89-85492-81-1; $18.99 paper, ISBN 979-89-85492-80-4
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Bookshop, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Kobo
An adventurous romance between a syren torn between loyalty and redemption and a softhearted pirate intent on saving the world. Together, they must stop the darkness on the seas.
Romance/Erotica
The Siren’s Gentleman (Fate of the Worthingtons #4)
Laura A. Barnes. Laura A. Barnes. $4.99 e-book, ASIN B0B677WBVS
Amazon, Apple iBooks, Baker & Taylor, BN.com, Draft2Digital, Google Play, Kobo, OverDrive, Scribd
To deny fate is to deny the love held in a heart. A gentleman smitten with a mysterious lady and a lady in search of a knight to rescue her.
Sundowners (Sundowners #1)
R.L. Merrill. Celie Bay Publications. $13.99 paper (282p), ISBN 978-1-953433-06-0; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B0B86P187H
Amazon, Apple iBooks, Baker & Taylor, BN.com, Kobo, OverDrive, Scribd
Fifty years ago, night nurse Creed lost everything when a mysterious cult ritual turned him into a vampire. Grad student Roman could be his downfall or the sign he’s been looking for.
Nonfiction
Around the World in 12 Years and 12 Square Meters: Memories and Insights
Steffen P. Russak. Authors Press. $23.99 (160p), ISBN 978-1-64314-678-2
Amazon
This book explores Russak and his wife’s adventures spanning countries, languages, and cultures.
Breaking Barriers: The First Ladies of Education
DeWitt S. Williams. BookBaby. $19.21 paper (240p), ISBN 978-1-09-838457-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-09-838458-6
Amazon, Bookbaby.com
In 1921, Sadie Alexander, Eva Dykes, and Georgiana Simpson became the first Black women in America to earn . They faced many obstacles but allowed nothing to stop them.
Bully Navigator: The Ultimate Parent’s Guide to Protecting Your Child from Bullying and Sexual Violence at School
Lawrence J. Altman and Steve M. Cohen. Stratton Press. $8.99 paper (178p), ISBN 978-1-64895-063-6
Amazon, BN.com
A guide for parents in protecting their children from bullying and sexual violence at school.
Forever Famous and Fxxxing Naked
Bambi Woods. Xlibris. $16.99 paper (108p), ISBN 978-1-66410-884-4; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66410-883-7
Amazon
Woods offers a space for fashion designers' and artists' creative ideas. The book’s blank pages can also be used for note-taking or journaling.
The House on the Rock, Book 1
H.K. Chapman. Xlibris. $46.99 paper (280p), ISBN 978-1-66410-112-8; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66410-114-2
Amazon
Chapman takes the reader on a personal journey through the word of God, equipping them with a strong foundation for every area of their life.
I Am a Survivor
Janice E. Holliman. AuthorHouse. $39.99 paper (296p), ISBN 978-1-72830-884-5
Amazon
This book is about the life of the author. It focuses on her faith, her hope, and her endurance during the years of her illness.
Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Employees Can See and Feel
Gena Cox. Page Two. $29.95 (325p), ISBN 978-1-77458-179-7; $9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-77458-180-3
Amazon, BN.com, Bookshop, IndieBound
Inclusion that embraces natural human variation remains elusive in the workplace. Cox proposes a fix: executives must lead inclusion from the top of their organization.
One Last Song for My Father: A Son’s Memoir
Edwin Fontánez. Exit Studio Publishing. $22 paper (276p), ISBN 978-0-9831891-4-5
Exitstudio.com
A heartfelt look at a father-son relationship, from Fontánez’s rural childhood in Puerto Rico to his father’s journey into dementia, in a memoir full of empathy, love, and healing.
Overcoming Deepest Grief: A Woman’s Journey: Grief, Acceptance, Gratitude and Joy
Mary Aviyah Farkas. Mary Aviyah Farkas. $15.95 paper (200p), ISBN 979-89-86483-50-4
Amazon, BN.com, Bookshop, Ingram
Aviyah was handed an unwanted intimacy with death after losing both her spouse of 18 years and her dearest sister. She hopes readers will be inspired by her journey.
Recovered
Barbara Ann Quinlan. Book Reality Experience. $9.95 paper (192p), ISBN 978-0-648-94978-7; $4.99 e-book, ASIN B0964M4F6P
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com
One woman’s journey from the wild ’60s of California, Europe, Israel, and beyond. Urging her on was the relentless pursuit of love, peace, and finding her place in the world.
Twice Blessed: First Century Christians in a Twenty-First Century World
Joseph A. McGee. WestBow Press. $13.95 paper (162p), ISBN 978-1-66425-369-8; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66425-368-1
Amazon
McGee hopes to help those who are dissatisfied find peace as he explains the overall understanding of the Bible and the meaning and purpose of suffering.
Way Too Fast: An American Reckoning: The Life and Music of Danny DeGennaro
John J. Farmer Jr. The Excluded Middle. $25.99 paper (380p), ISBN 979-89-85325-70-6; $5.99 e-book, ISBN 979-89-85325-71-3
Amazon, Apple iBook, BN.com
Danny DeGennaro was a supremely gifted singer, songwriter, and guitarist. This is an elegiac tribute to the murdered artist, his community, and his generation.
What’s Next: 2020 Onwards
Peter J. Dwyer. Balboa Press. $4.99 paper (48p), ISBN 978-1-982291-74-7; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B09FXRCWGG
Amazon, Google Play, Scribd
The author seeks to help readers attempt to take the challenge from the now and what it reveals as they enter paths toward the future.
Wolf: A Memoir of Love and Atonement
Carter McNamara. Authenticity Consulting. $15.99 paper (301p), ISBN 978-1-933719-40-5; 99¢ e-book, ISBN 978-1-933719-41-2
Amazon, Bookshop, Ingram
A unique and raw story about how, with the love and support of his partner, the author overcame his trauma to save his sanity, relationship, and career.
Women in the Job Market: Ten Ways to Balance Work, Home, and More
Barbara Leist Nelson. Dorrance Publishing. $12 paper (92p), ISBN 978-1-63937-471-7; $7 e-book, ISBN 978-1-63937-524-0
Amazon, BN.com, Dorrance Publishing
Nelson provides information on everything from résumé building to scheduling to work-from-home life for women balancing their careers and families.
Words Are Your Superpower
A.S. Stephens. A.S. Stephens. $16.99 paper (92p), ISBN 978-1-73676-850-1; $10.99 e-book, ASIN B097Z35FH6
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million
This book seeks to be a helping hand that will help readers unearth a plan to lead their best life with less negativity and a new, wonderful self-image.
Children’s/YA
Alpha Buddies Land
Donna M. Rink. Ingram Spark. $34.99 (56p), ISBN 978-0-578-33380-9; $19.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-578-46331-5
Amazon, BN.com
Rink brings the alphabet to life through the fun cartoon characters Alpha Buddies. It is the first picture book in a series of eight stories over a rainbow.
Art: A Story About an Autistic and Artistic Circus Virtuoso
Marin Darmonkow. Fontreal. $12.99 paper (32p), ISBN 978-1-989661-21-5; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-989661-27-7
Amazon
Little boy Art is autistic and artistic. Art has just one friend—his teddy bear. He does not speak, but he makes art—art that dismisses gravity.
Baby Rafi: The Runaway Giraffe
Valerie Lee Baker, illus. by Frances Espanol. Xlibris. $16.99 paper (50p), ISBN 978-1-66414-517-7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66414-516-0
Amazon
This jungle story is packed full of action, suspense, and consequences for disobedience intertwined with the bonds of love and family as Rafi’s misadventures unfold.
The Bread Company
Andrew Zellgert. Zellgertbooks. $10.99 paper (95p), ISBN 978-1-08-805979-1; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-08-805656-1
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
What started as a simple part-time job quickly escalates into an epic high-flying sci-fi adventure. Join Randy on his quest through the cosmos to find the restaurant founders’ recipe.
Fantah
Hadiza Bagudu. Abai Productions Limited. $19 paper (260p), ISBN 978-978-79192-9-3; $5 e-book, ISBN 978-978-79193-0-9
Hadizabagudu.com, Kobo
Hayah, determined to win his rightful seat on the throne, meets a village girl named Fantah. Soon they embark on a love affair that threatens to destroy them both.
Fluffy’s Christmas Gift
Charles W. Page, illus. by Kara Bazley. Spoonful of Courage Publishers. $25 (36p), ISBN 978-1-958827-02-4; $11.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-958827-01-7
Amazon, Ingram
Fluffy, a Christmas tree decoration, experiences trials on his journey to the treetop. When he gets there, the ornament is transformed by the baby in the manger.
Moonlight Monsters
Heather Millard. AuthorHouse. $13.99 paper (26p), ISBN 978-1-66554-352-1; $7 e-book, ISBN 978-1-66554-351-4
Amazon
Millard tells the story of an
eight-year-old boy who discovers that he can be brave enough to
confront his fear.
No School for Ben: What Will Happen?
Daphne Pang, illus. by Dwain Esper. AuthorHouse. $16.99 paper (24p), ISBN 978-1-4918-3321-6; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4918-3322-3
Amazon
Ben decides one morning not to
go to school anymore. What shall Mom do on this routine morning rush to make Ben get ready for school and herself for work?
